Buying local has become a way of life for many consumers. It’s a growing trend that has only just begun to permeate communities across the country, yet it has already delivered big success for local businesses. If you haven’t already been convinced, here’s a look at why you should be more vocal about buying local.

Independent We Stand has joined the Advocates for Independent Business (AIB), a new coalition of trade associations and other groups dedicated to ensuring that locally owned, independent businesses succeed and thrive.

The “support local” message is catching on more than ever America and as we continue to become better educated regarding the positive economic benefits of shifting our spending to locally-owned businesses, it’s apparent these habits need to be preserved and nurtured among our youth.

Showrooming is the process of a consumer getting information on a product or service from a storefront business, tapping the expertise of its employees, and perhaps even trying out or trying on a product before purchasing it from a remote seller at lower cost.

SPRINGFIELD — The family behind Fernandez Family Restaurant in Holyoke is expanding, adding a banquet hall at the former Adelphia Restaurant in South Hadley and creating 12 to 15 new jobs, with the help of the state treasurer’s Small Business Banking Partnership.

Since 2002, a growing number of studies have quantified the local economic benefits delivered by independent businesses, demonstrating locally-owned independent businesses return much more of each dollar in revenue to their communities than chains (i.e. the local premium).

In 1998, two residents of Boulder, Colorado, became concerned about the affect big chain stores were having on local businesses and the character of their community. They organized likeminded businesses and individuals and devised a plan to counteract this disturbing trend. Through their trailblazing efforts – replicated many times since in communities far and wide – awareness was raised for this issue. For maybe the first time, it became cool to be local!